Days after an FIR was lodged for alleged cheating, Safdarjung Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Jagdish Prasad is now being investigated for ‘hiring muscle’ to beat up one of the complainants.

According to the complainant, S K Sinha, a physically challenged man, the Padmashree Awardee doctor’s men picked him up from Andheria More on Monday (September 21) night and beat him. “All his teeth were broken; we have taken Sinha’s statement,” a police officer said.

Sinha is admitted in RML Hospital.

According to a complaint lodged with Sarjioni Nagar police by Sinha and Jagat Narayan, who is visually impaired, Dr Prasad took Rs 22.5 lakh from them and reneged on a promise to award them the contract to run the hospital canteen under the quota for disabled persons.

The FIR was lodged on August 28.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, Dr Prasad called the complainants “beggars” who “lack the social standing to pay that much money”.

Dr Prasad also accused Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) H G S Dhaliwal of “framing” him for not granting admission to one of his relatives. “I have phone records showing that I spoke to Dhaliwal on July 2,” Dr Prasad said. “He called me requesting I grant admission to one of his relatives. (After) I refused, he is now taking revenge.”

While DCP Dhaliwal refused to comment, sources close to him said he did not wish to “dignify” the allegations by commenting on them.

In a statement, the Delhi Police spokesperson said: “No relative of DCP (South) has ever applied for admission in any course at Safdarjang Hospital. The false statement by the MS has been made to mislead and take the attention away from the investigation into charges of cheating levelled by the physically challenged persons belonging to the native district of Dr Jagdish Prasad.”

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